KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 18, 2025

Walking across the stage at Kennesaw State University’s Commencement ceremony was a remarkable moment for Sladjana Ray ’24. Having earned an education specialist degree, it marked her third successful round in higher education, to strengthen her skillset as a history teacher.

In the crowd were her daughter, Mima Hrnjak, a nursing student in Kennesaw State’s Wellstar College of Health and Human Services, and Ray’s parents. They made the trip from their native Serbia, known as Yugoslavia when Ray migrated to the states in the ’90s as a 16-year-old basketball player. 

“I've always looked up to my mom,” Hrnjak said. “She has taught my sister and I that you can do anything, and if it's hard, that means it's worth doing.”

Ray’s first dream was to become a professional athlete, and she started strong as a member of Yugoslavia’s junior national team. However, life had other plans — a successful career as an educator. In addition to earning status as a Bagwell Scholar as a student, she was recently recognized as Teacher of the Year at McClure Health Science High School in Gwinnett County.

Reflecting on her journey, Ray said graduating from KSU was a testament to the transformative power of education in her life.

“Education has unlocked countless opportunities and paved the way for a better life,” Ray said. “From arriving in a new country with few words to now teaching in English and making a meaningful impact in my school and community is an achievement beyond measure.”

Life for Ray has been all but easy. Having arrived in the U.S. on a high school basketball scholarship at Washington College Academy in Limestone, Tennessee, wartime conflict abroad prevented her from returning to her home country.

“I didn’t know if my family was okay because all the lines were disconnected,” Ray said. “Finally, I got in touch with them. They had been in the basement for several weeks, but they were safe.  I was really thankful for that, but it was really hard because I was so young, and I was scared. I was thinking, ‘What if something happened to my parents over there, what am I going to do?’”

Ray later adapted to her new home by becoming fluent in English, navigating college, and, not long after, meeting her first husband. After the relationship turned abusive, Ray found herself in a women’s shelter with her daughter and $5 in her pocket.

“After that, I decided to go back to school,” Ray said.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English education at Georgia State University, taking night classes while working as a substitute teacher at an elementary school. Ray would go on to pursue a master’s degree in English education from Mercer University.

She also found a new, healthier relationship before ultimately enrolling at KSU. Hrnjak had already begun attending, and Ray had been wanting to go back to school. At KSU, Ray learned to bring history to life, to grow as a teacher, and build her toolbox.

“I had the passion. I had the hard work. I just didn't know how to execute,” Ray said. “Now, I can better help our students graduate and chase their dreams and passions, like I did mine.”

– Story by Amber Perry

Photos by Darnell Wilburn

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.